FRANKFORT- The chambers of the Kentucky Supreme Court were overflowing with onlookers on Monday as the eight Kentucky electors cast their ballots for President and Vice President of the United States.

Greeting the large crowd that came to witness the historic vote, Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes praised her office’s work in the 2016 election.

“The Secretary of State and the State Board of Elections endeavored to make sure, as our founding fathers believed, that we the people of the United States in order to form a perfect union worked diligently to ensure that every eligible Kentuckian registered and got out to vote on Election Day,” Grimes said.

She went on to speak about the online voter registration initiative which helped to register many new voters, and Grimes called on members of the General Assembly and Governor Matt Bevin to adopt more initiatives to help even more Kentuckians vote in future elections.

“Initiatives such as making sure folks can go vote early, without an excuse, members of the General Assembly it’s within your power,” Grimes said. “Initiatives such as restoration of non-violent felony offender voting rights, 300,000 plus Kentuckians who have paid their debt to society but not able to participate in the process. Governor with your help I hope we are able to cross that bridge.”

Before the electors cast their votes, Governor Bevin addressed those present, speaking of how no form of government is perfect. Bevin told the crowd that despite it’s imperfections, the United States government is still the greatest ever known. Bevin went on to express his gratitude to all those involved, from elected officials to those who elected them.

“I’m grateful to you as the electors who have been willing to step forward, to take the baton and run with it on behalf of the people of Kentucky,” Bevin said. “I’m grateful, and it may seem odd to some, to the people who on a cold bitter day have chosen to be here in protest, of exactly what I’m not sure, but none the less, the greatest thing about America is you can come without fear of challenge to your government on any front at any time.”

A group of protesters gathered outside the state capitol with signs hoping to sway electors to cast their ballot for someone other than President-Elect Donald Trump. Kentucky is one of several states that does not impose a penalty on electors who cast their votes for someone other than the candidate for whom they are pledged to vote.

All eight of Kentucky’s electors cast their vote for Trump and for Vice President-Elect Mike Pence. On Friday, January 6, 2017, members of the United States House and Senate will meet to count the votes of the electors. Vice President Joe Biden will preside over the count, and once all of the votes have been read, he will declare a winner.